Philippe Coutinho’s day ended in anguish, writhing on the floor in significant pain with an injury which forced Liverpool’s chief tormentor off on a stretcher.

The Brazilian was clobbered by the boot of Didier N‘Dong, his ankle appearing to twist. He was carried off with his trusty right foot in a brace and the early signs do not look good for Jurgen Klopp.

Anfield winced as Coutinho was transported down the tunnel after 34 minutes and will have sighed within 10 seconds of this victory sealed after half-time when Sunderland became leggy.

Philippe Coutinho suffered a serious ankle injury in the 2-0 win over Sunderland

The Brazilian's right ankle appeared broken after being clattered by Didier N‘Dong

Coutinho and N'Dong came into contact during the Premier League clash at Anfield

The Reds playmaker is in obvious pain as he receives medical attention on the pitch

There was the sight of Jason Denayer, in unfamiliar surroundings sitting in midfield for Sunderland, making a pointed beeline for Coutinho straight from kick-off. The mechanics of the role are not subtle. He would stay by his side right up until Coutinho’s luck deserted him up against N’Dong.

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Man-marking is the Premier League’s lost art, its presence rarely seen, and that David Moyes deployed Denayer to shadow Coutinho is testament to the latter’ s quite magnificent season until this point.

Moyes will have noted 10 goals have come directly from the 24-year-old, by way of five to himself and another five assists. He will know Coutinho takes four efforts on goal a game and whose movement bamboozles opposition defences up and down the land.

Liverpool will be hoping their chief creator will not be sidelined for too long

Coutinho has scored five goals and assisted five more in the league this season

Manager Jurgen Klopp checks on Coutinho as he is taken off on a stretcher

Denayer’s sole job, on just his fourth league start on loan from Manchester City, was stay close, never stray too far.

Moyes has previous for this purposeful act of defensive obtuseness, notably in 2011 when Everton manager. Jack Rodwell very nearly man-marked David Silva out of a game at the Etihad Stadium only for a slight lapse in concentration bringing the stubborn cards tumbling down.

It saw Denayer trot over to the touchline for large spells, almost proving a hindrance to right back Billy Jones.

It also drew confused looks from Steven Pienaar on occasion as Denayer left his station in front of the two central defenders.

Sunderland defender John Denayert (left) was a given a man-marking job on Coutinho

James Milner sweeps home Liverpool's second goal from the penalty spot

Klopp celebrates taking Liverpool top of the Premier League, at least temporarily

Slightly amusing, too, when the Belgian lost his bearings and struggled to locate Coutinho’s whereabouts, the dreadlocks swinging in the Merseyside cold in blind panic.

Denayer, however, can only be commended for his resilience. Coutinho was stifled, Sunderland had a foothold in this contest. Quite how long that discipline could have been retained we will never know but its purpose was served. At only 21, this represented a severe test and act of trust.

He passed until Coutinho came off. From there, Sunderland almost looked perplexed, despite the most dangerous man having departed. After that came another unimaginative defeat as shots peppered poor Jordan Pickford’s goal.